Northwestern University ranks #7 in the 2026 U.S. News and World Report “Best National Universities” ranking because of its formidable reputation for academic excellence, high quality of life on campus, and cushy relationship with many major industries.

Northwestern Admission Requirements

 Northwestern does not maintain a minimum GPA requirement for admission. Does this mean a 4.0 is necessary for admission? Not necessarily, but Northwestern prizes students who take the most rigorous high school coursework available to them and perform well in these courses. Any shortcomings on transcripts should be supplemented with strong written material and stellar recommendations.

Northwestern SAT/ACT Score Requirements

Northwestern is test-optional, although we at Ivy Coach have long been critical of this policy, as Northwestern admissions officials give preference to applicants who submit test scores, whether they’ll own up to it or not.

Amongst members of the Class of 2028, 46% submitted SAT scores, and 23% submitted ACT scores.

	SAT	ACT
Median	1540	34
Mid 50% Range	1510 — 1560	34 — 35

Does Northwestern Superscore SAT or ACT scores?

A superscore combines the highest section scores from each individual test sitting for admissions evaluation. Northwestern superscores both the SAT and the ACT, evaluating the highest scores reported for the Reading and Writing and Math sections of the SAT, and the maximum value of each official section score of the ACT.

However, students should submit more than one score report only for the purposes of superscoring. Submitting multiple test administrations shows Northwestern that you had to work harder than many other applicants to achieve your scores, so Ivy Coach discourages the practice.

What High School Courses Does Northwestern Require?

Northwestern Undergraduate Admissions recommends the following high school curriculum:

• English: 4 full-year courses
• Foreign language: a minimum of 2 full-year courses of one foreign language
• History and social science: a minimum of 2 full-year courses
• Laboratory science: a minimum of 2 full-year courses
• Mathematics: a minimum of 3 full-year courses
• Additional subjects: 1-3 full-year courses in the academic areas listed above.

Note that applicants to the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science are required to have completed four years of mathematics through calculus and three years of laboratory science with a focus on chemistry and physics. With that being said, four years of study in each core subject are essential for a competitive college application anywhere in the U.S., and foreign language study ideally should begin by eighth grade. 

What Extracurriculars Does Northwestern Look For in Applicants?

When it comes to extracurriculars, the last thing a prospective applicant should do is frame themselves as well-rounded. Admissions officers at Northwestern seek to build diverse classes of students composed of experts and specialists. Decorated actors, groundbreaking scientists, and innovative writers who each push the needle in their respective fields will fare a lot better than those with a jack-of-all-trades approach to resume building. Students should pursue their special “thing” as far as it will go, because Northwestern will take notice!

Northwestern Application Requirements

Northwestern applicants must complete The Common Application or The Coalition Application, the Northwestern Supplement, a counselor recommendation, and two teacher recommendations. An alumni interview is no longer offered, but a Glimpse video introduction is. 

Let’s focus on each individual component and discuss how students should complete them to give them the best shot of admission.

Who to Ask For Letters of Recommendation

Applicants to Northwestern should ask two teachers, ideally two junior year teachers in core subjects, in addition to their school counselor for letters of recommendation.

Does Northwestern Require an Alumni Interview?

Alumni interviews are no longer conducted as part of the application process. Instead, Northwestern offers a two-minute video introduction component. Northwestern writes:

While our application volume is such that we cannot offer interviews, students applying from US high schools are welcome to record a Glimpse video if you wish to add a more candid voice to your application. (Students applying from international high schools can skip ahead to learn about a similar opportunity through InitialView.)

Glimpse allows you to share a 60–90 second video helping us get to know you better: your values, your perspectives, your background or experiences—whatever you feel matters and may not otherwise come through fully in your other application materials.

What are Northwestern’s Supplemental Essay Topics?

The essay component of an application is one of the most important components. Northwestern applicants must complete the following supplement: 

The following question is required for all Common Application and Coalition with Scoir applicants (optional for QuestBridge applicants). Please respond in 300 words or fewer:

We want to be sure we’re considering your application in the context of your personal experiences: What aspects of your background (your identity, your school setting, your community, your household, etc.) have most shaped how you see yourself engaging in Northwestern’s community, be it academically, extracurricularly, culturally, politically, socially, or otherwise?

We encourage you to answer at least one and no more than two of the following questions. Please respond in fewer than 200 words per question:

• Painting “The Rock” is a tradition at Northwestern that invites all forms of expression—students promote campus events or extracurricular groups, support social or activist causes, show their Wildcat spirit (what we call “Purple Pride”), celebrate their culture, and more. What would you paint on The Rock, and why?
• Northwestern fosters a distinctively interdisciplinary culture. We believe discovery and innovation thrive at the intersection of diverse ideas, perspectives, and academic interests. Within this setting, if you could dream up an undergraduate class, research project, or creative effort (a start-up, a design prototype, a performance, etc.), what would it be? Who might be some ideal classmates or collaborators?
• Community and belonging matter at Northwestern. Tell us about one or more communities, networks, or student groups you see yourself connecting with on campus.
• Northwestern’s location is special: on the shore of Lake Michigan, steps from downtown Evanston, just a few miles from Chicago. What aspects of our location are most compelling to you, and why?
• Northwestern is a place where people with diverse backgrounds from all over the world can study, live, and talk with one another. This range of experiences and viewpoints immeasurably enriches learning. How might your individual background contribute to this diversity of perspectives in Northwestern’s classrooms and around our campus?

Ivy Coach’s Assistance with Northwestern University Admission

If you’re interested in optimizing your case for admission to Northwestern, fill out Ivy Coach’s complimentary consultation form. We’ll then be in touch to outline our college counseling services led by our very own Chad Faber, a former Northwestern admissions officer.